FREE LESSON: OKR-chestrating Success! (Business English, B2

Explore this Business English lesson on OKRs!

New Year… new beginnings, right? As the clock strikes midnight, heralding January 1st, we often find ourselves in a whirlwind of resolutions. Drink three litres of water daily? Absolutely. Hit the gym every day? Why not? Embrace our “best selves”? Of course! Though, truth be told, some of those aspirations only seem to regain their sparkle after Carnival.

In the corporate world, however, resolutions take on a more structured form: OKRs (Objective Key Results). And Business English learners often encounter these, whether contributing to, interpreting, or discussing them in professional contexts.

With that in mind, I’ve created a lesson designed specifically for adult learners, particularly those at intermediate and advanced levels of proficiency. Keep reading to know more!

What are OKRs?

One of the joys (and challenges) of teaching Business English is uncovering the rich jargon from different industries. OKRs, however, transcend specific sectors and have even found their way into Brazilian Portuguese in some regions.

But are you fully aware of the meaning of the expression? First off, we must bear in mind that it stands for Objective Key Results.

Besides, according to John Doerr, a North-American investor and author of Measure What Matters, OKRs consist of:

Objectives: Qualitative and inspiring goals designed to motivate.
Key Results: 3 to 5 measurable milestones that track progress toward each objective.

And he goes on to explain that objectives, in their turn, have to be qualitative and motivating to be truly effective.

All in all, the following formula helps set those goals:

“I will [VERB] as measured by [steps to hit the main objective]."

Lesson Objectives

The focus os this material is equipping learners with three essential skills:

Formulating strategies for personal and professional development.
Making polite suggestions and setting expectations (e.g. in meetings).
Grasping the essentials of OKRs and their role in achieving success.

To make the material engaging and practical, I’ve incorporated:

Food-for-thought questions.
Expert videos on corporate psychology and data-driven decision-making.
Real-world applications tailored to professional contexts.

BTW, one of my favourite sources for lessons like this is Harvard Business Review — highly recommended!

Access the Lesson

Click here to access the complete lesson material and please note: this material is intended for educational purposes only. If you use it, kindly ensure proper credit is given and the sources of the selected texts are accurately cited.

Now, let me know how you’d answer one of the questions I included in the material: How do you usually decide which areas to improve or put your energy on?

I hope this lesson proves valuable for you and your students. See you next time!